Bentley aims to restore the shine

CEDAR RAPIDS -- Josh Bentley is no fool.

"I would have been if I didn't apply for this job," Bentley said Friday, after Prairie High School named him as the school's next girls' basketball coach, pending board approval."This program is a diamond that just needs to be polished and shined again."

Bentley, 32, succeeds Steve Doser, who resigned at the conclusion of the 2013-14 season.

'We are very excited for Josh to take over our girls' basketball program,' Prairie Athletics Director Rocky Bennett said in a release. 'He has an excellent coaching background from a variety of schools with a proven track record. His basketball knowledge, enthusiasm, work ethic and desire to build relationships are amongst the qualities he possesses that will help continue to take our program to new heights.'

A native of Calmar (he graduated from South Winneshiek in 2000 and Upper Iowa University in 2004), Bentley has coached at Cambridge (Ill.) Ridgewood Co-op, Lansing Kee and Midland. He owns a seven-year career record of 102-68; his 2013-14 team at Ridgewood Co-op was 16-14.

He also was the head football coach and is the boys track coach at Ridgewood.

"We always said we wanted to get back to Iowa," Bentley said. "You walk the halls at Prairie, and there are 5-foot-10, 6-foot girls all over the place. You can put a nice youth program in place. It's a great opportunity, and I think the Mississippi Valley Conference is the best conference in the state."

Bentley will teach special education at College Community Schools.  He is married to wife Kristie, and the couple has four children, Tatem, Tylan, Asa and Vaughn.

Prairie was 6-16 last season and returns several key players, including Olivia Usher, Emilie Rotter and Makenzie Stoffer. The Hawks are just a year removed from an MVC divisional championship.